Snap-hook



(No Model.)

J. L. MARTIN.

'SNAP HOOK.

Patented Apr. 10, 1888.

- closed or open.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN L. MARTIN, OF CANTON, KANSAS.

SNAP=HOOK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 380,687, dated April 10, 1888.

Application filed January 28, i888. Serial No. 262,565. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHN L. MARTIN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Canton, in the county of McPherson and State of Kansas, have invented a new and useful Snap Hook, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to snap-hooks; and it consists of two reversed or a double hook like the letter 8, two levers, two slots, two guards or guides, and a spring; and the objects of my improvements are, first, to secure ease andconvenience in holding the hook and operating the snap, and, second, to provide a form and combination by which the hook can be held and the snap be operated without interfering with or obstructing in the least the passage of a ring into or out of the hook by either fingers, thumb, or protective coverings for the same. I attain these objects by the contrivance illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a side elevation of snap-hook, showing position of levers when the hook is Fig. 2 is a vertical section of the same, representing the slots which receive the levers and limit their action and disclosing location and attachment of spring.

Similar letters refer to similar parts in both views.

The hook proper for receiving and confining rings is A. The hook G contains the slot 0, providing space for the lever J, which is inserted and riveted to G to form a bearing at H, and which is protected by the guards or guides I.

To the lower end of the lever J is riveted a strip of spring metal to provide the spring P, and to the upper end is joined by the hingejoint K the lever L, which is inserted through ,the slot N in the middle portion, -E.

To the hook G is attach ed the ordinary elongated ring, M, for securing to it straps, 8.50.

In operating this snap-hook the first two fingers are placed about the lower portion, G,

and the thumb is pressed inward against the lever J, the spring of which, yielding, will permit it to move into the position shown in dotted lines, Fig. 1, while the thumb will naturally close upon portion I. The end 0 of the lever L, in yielding to the pressure from the lever J, will, in the first half of the movement of the latter, take the direction from G to B and not open the hook A, being a safeguard against accidental opening, and the edge D of the slot N will act as a fulcrum for the lever L in the remaining movement imparted to it, causing it to move into the position indicated by dotted lines L 0, Fig. 1, and open the hook A. Upon removing the pressure the tension of the spring I will throw back the lever J into its original position, drawing back with it the lever L, which being guided and confined by the edge of the slot at F again closes the hook A and locks it.

From the foregoing description it is apparent that the act of grasping also opens the snap for either booking or unhooking, and that it is done easily, naturally, and without any obstruction to the free movement ofthe thumb, as is the case in some others, and that a perfectly clear passage is provided for the ingress or egress of rings into or out of the hook,which in other hooks is partially obstructed by the presence of the thumb, aggravated by gloves or mittens worn, which are also frequently caught between lever and point of book.

Having thus described my invention, I claim- The herein-described snaphook, comprising the double hook A G, the guards I, the levers J and L, the slots 0 and N, and the spring P, all substantially as set forth, and forming in combination the outlines of the figure 8.

JOHN L. MARTINr Witnesses:

FREDERICK SALIER, BYRON DE LACY. 

